Track-chain.



B; HOLT.

TRACK 0mm. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5. I911- Patented Mar. 5, 1918 Fig 5% M4 awx AmRNITB UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN I IOL'I', OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

TRACK- CHAIN.

Specif cation of Letters Yatcnt.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

Application filed September 5, 1917. Serial No. 189.738.

nay conceive:

I, Linen inn? .lie United States, residing in the county of San Joaquin and California, have invented new and improvements in Track-Chains, of 1 the following is a specification.

This invention relates to track chains for tractors of the endless, self-laying track oLT, a

will roll whenever engaging with a tooth ofthe sprocket wheel and thus friction will be reduced both on the wheel and chain and the wear on the pin will be more generally distributed. .In this connection I provide novel means for oiling the bearings of the rotating pin, preferring to make the pin tubular and fill it with the oil soaked packfrom which oil escapes through suitapcrtures to the bearings. ic distinguishing features of the preschain include the utilization of a am of parts made of stock materials, y agreat saving in the cost of manuis effected. ie accompanying drawings: lies 1 and? show perspective views cne of the side pieces employed in each links of the track chain. 3 shows a perspective view of ling pins. shows a perspective view of a side with the surrounding band removed. s s a plan view of two of the snows a side elevation of the same. snows a sectional view, taken on 5" ."'.T-'.rr 6 i view, taken on 13. 6 anafu'rther truck of the 'tra slight modifica- 'ofe one of portion of he chain track in engagement. with the sprocket drivinp; wheel of a tractor.

The track chain comprises a series of articulated link sections, each made up of a pair of spaced cast iron side pieces 10, surrounding each of which is a wrought iron band 11 of less Width and seated in depressions 12 at the top and bottom. of the side piece and flush with the laterally extending surfaces thereof. The side pieces are made wide, the innerlongitudinal face especially being about twice the width of the surrounding band, whereby to form a widened track toreceive truck rollers 13. The terminals of the band 11, preferably, do not come together, being held spaced by a ledge 14 on the cast iron piece. Each band is formed with rounded ends which, in conjunction with the concaved ends 15 of the side piece. form circular openings 16 which receive tubular pins 17 for connecting adiacent links'together. said pins also form-- in: teeth to engage with sprocket teeth on the driving wheel A of the tractor, as shown in Fig. 10.

This combined coupling pin and chain too h. unlike others. has no gudgcon block or housing and is rotatable within its bearinns in the side pieces. Therefore. when enga ging a tooth of the sprocket driving will be caused to roll and thereby wheel it the usual friction occurring between the teeth of the track chain and wheel will be eliminated and also wear on the teeth of the track chain will be evenly distributed.

Alternate links have the side pieces spaced so that the proiecting ends of the bands embrace th proiecting ends of the bands or intermediate links. this being accomplished by disposing the side pieces in one instance so that the bands are on the outside and in the other ins ance are on the inside, as shown in Fig. 5. Hence the same parts enter into the construction of all links. The external curved ends of the bands abut the laterally -extending portions of the side pieces, the

and dirt'to beexpelled bv the sprocket teeth on the driving wheel of tractor.

The bands 11 are held 11'] place on the side pieces by bolts 20 whi h pass through the ,posed'outwardly to form ground-engaging members. For the purpose of keeping mud and dirt from entering the interior of the links, especially at the joints, and also for.

supporting the links atthese points, each web 22 receives an angle bar 23, bolted or riveted thereto and arranged with the1r flanges projecting beneath the side pieces The inner and overlapping one another. most flange 24 engages closely against the bottom of the side pieces and forms a support for the overlying ends of-the links, whereas the outermost flange 25 is preferably curved to permit the links to flex at their joints in passing around the sprocket and carrying wheels of the'tractor in operation.

The tubular pin 17 is made self-oiling by reason of a packing 26 filling its interior and which is adapted to be saturated with oil. Through perforations 27 in those portions of the pin which lie within the openings 16 the oil escapes to lubricate the bearing surfaces. The ends of the pin are closed, preferably, by means of removable disks 28, and the pins are held in place by clips 29, which'latter may either'be secured to the flange 2 L of the angle bar 23,- as shown .in Figs. (Sand 8, or to the side pieces, as

shown in Fig. 9. Y

Throughout the construction of this track chain I haveutiliz'ed to the greatest extent stock materials, such, for instance, as the tubular pins 17, the bands 11, the channel I bars 21, and the angle bars 23, In fact, the

only specially fabricated part is the side piece 10. The resulting track is of a strong and durable nature, the wrought iron bands 11 aifording a wearing surface for the coupling pins 17 which is superior to that ofi'ered by cast iron parts. The joints are self-oiling and the parts being detachable throughout are easily and cheaply replaced when worn.

The pins 17 are of uniform diameter throughout their length and being held in place by detachable means can easily be re moved from their bearings at either side of the track. The ends of the tubular pins being also removable make it a comparatively simple matter to gain access to the packing material within.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is j 1. In a tractor of the endless, self-laying track type, the combination with made up of a sprocket panama a series of articulated link sections, each section comprising spaced side pieces, those of adjacent linksbeing overlapped at their ends, and a coupling pin extending through apertures in said tiverlapping ends and rotatable within for connecting adjacent links together and also forming a sprocket tooth for the track chain to coiiperate with the teeth on the driving sprocket wheel, the said pin, when engaging the teeth of the wheel, being free to roll, whereby friction is elimi nated and the wear thereon is evenly distributed.

2. In a tractor of the endless, self-laying track type, the combination with a sprocket driving wheel of a track chain made up of a series of, articulated link sections, each section comprising spaced side pieces, those of adjacent links being'overlapped at their ends, a coupling pin extending through apertures in'said overlapping ends and rotatable within for connecting adjacent links together and also forming a sprocket tooth for the track chain to cooperate with the teeth on the driving sprocket wheel, the said pin, when engaging the teeth of the wheel, being free to roll, whereby friction is eliminated and the Wear thereon is evenly distributed, said pin being of uniform diameter throughout its length, and detachable means for holding it in place Within the side .pieces.

3. In a tractor ,of the endless, self-laying track type, the combination with a sprocket driving wheel of a track chain made up of aseries of articulated link sections, each section comprising spaced side pieces, those of adjacent links being overlapped at their ends, a coupling pin extending through apertures in said overlapping ends and rotatable within for connecting adjacent links together and also forming a sprocket tooth for the track chain to coiiperate with the teeth on the driving sprocket wheel, the said pin, when engaging the teeth of the wheel, being free to roll, whereby friction is eliminatedand the wear thereon is evenly distributed, said pin being made tubular, and a packing saturated with oil received within and lubricating the bearings through apertures in the walls of said pin.

4,, In a tractor of the endless, self-layin track type, the combination with a sprocke M driving wheel, of a track chain made up of' apertures in said overlapping ends and to tatable within for connecting adjacent links together and also forming a sprocket tooth for the track chain to cooperate with the teeth on the driving sprocket wheel, the said pm, when engaging the teeth of the wheel,

being free to roll, whereby friction is eliminated and the wear thereon is evenly dis ted, sait, pin hei n saturated WlEi a made tubular, a oil received within (1 luoricating the be vings through apert s in the "Walls of said pin, and removable disks for closing the ends of said tubular pin. 5. i"; track chain made up of a series of articulated link sections, each comprising spaced side pieces arranged to overlap at their connected ends and a cylindrical pin passing through the opening in the overlapo'ne; ends of the side pieces for coupling the ts together and forming also a pin tooth 'age with a sprocket driving wheel. 6. it track articulated link sections, each comprising spaced side pieces arranged to overlap at their connected ends, a cylindrical pin passthrongh openings in the overlapping the side pices for coupling the parts together and forming also a pin tooth to en- 'a re with a sprocket driving Wheel, said pin being rotatable within said opening, and iii-eans tor oiling the bearing surface between said pin and side pieces.

' track chain made up of a series of link sections, each comprising articulated paced side pieces arranged to overlap at heir connected ends, a tubular pin passing hrougli openings in the overlapping ends of the side pieces "tor connecting them together, and a packing material Within said pin saturated with oil, said pin having its Walls perforated at the portions lying Within theopenings to permit the escape of oil from within, whereby to lubricate the bearing surface between the pin and side r track chain made up of a series of iculated link sections, each link comprisn spaced side pieces of cast iron, and a r Wrought iron surrounding each side sin ice of the track and having curved ends spaced from the ends of the side pieces and niing in conjunction therewith apertures receive coupling pins, whereby adjacent links are connected together.

in. A track chain made upol a series of ticulated link sections, each formed of ,C'TJCZ side pieces, and bands surrounding no l are and secured thereto, the bands at llQ'il ends forming in conjunction with the ends or the side pieces apertures to receive coupling pins for connecting adjacent links together.

11. it track chain made up of a'series of articulated link sections, each formed of spaced side pieces, and bands surrounding the same and secured thereto, the bands at chain made up of a series of arrange ed ends,

ds forming a portion of the Wearing their ends forming in conjunction With the ends oil the side pieces apertures to receive coupling pins for connecting adjacent links toget the bands of alternate links being arrang so as to receive between them the band intermediate links at their connect spaced side pi ces, and bands surrounding the same and secured thereto, the bands at their ends forming in conjunction with the ends of the side pieces apertures to receive coupling pins for connecting adjacent links together, the bands of alternate links being arranged'so as to receive between them the hands of intermediate links at their connectsaid bands being of less \vidth than ipieces and. the latterprojecting at one llllSll with the surface of the bands to term widened tracks.

13. i track chain made up of a series of articulated link sections, each formed of spaced side pieces, and bands surrounding the same and secured thereto, the bands at their ends forming in conjunction with the ends 01 the side pieces apertures to receive coupliu pins for connecting adj accnt links togetln the bands of alternate links being so as to receive between them the bands of intermediate links at their connect aid bands being of less Width than the side pieces and the latter projecting at one side Hush with the surface of the bands to :torin widened tracks, the exterior of the curved ends of the bands abutting the latijecting ends of the side pieces. track chain made up of a series of 'ed link sections, each formed of artici spaced side pieces, and bands surrounding the same and secured thereto, the bands at "their ends forming in conjunctionwith the ends of the side pieces apertures to receive coupling pins for connecting adjacent links together. the bands of alternate links being arranged so as to receive between them the bands of intermediate links at their connected ends, said bands being of less Width than th 'side pieces and the latter projecting at one side flush with the surface of the bands to form widened tracks, said side pieces being dished and perforated at their central body portions;

15. -A track chain made up of a series of articulated link sections, each formed of spaced side pieces, and bands surrounding the SillllG ilIlCl secured thereto, the bands at their ends forming in conjunction with the ends oi the side pieces apertures to receive coupling pins for connecting adjacent links together, said bands being secured in place by bolts passing thcrethrough and entering the, outer ieces.

16. A track chain made "up of a series o longitudinal faces of the side' pling pins for connecting adjacent links to- Esther, said bands being secured in place by olts passing therethrough and entering the ,outer longitudinal faces of the side pieces, and

a grouser for each link also held in place by said bolts.

17. A track chain,made up of a series of,

articulated link sections, each comprising spaced side pieces, and a shoe in the form of a channel bar extending transversely of the side pieces, the side webs of the channel bar being directed outwardly to form groundengaging members.

18. A track chain madeup of a-series of articulated link sections, each comprising spaced side pieces, a shoe inthe form of a c annel bar extending transversely of the side pieces, the side webs of the channel bar being directed outwardly to form groundengaging members, said channel bar being of less width than the length of the side faces, and means carried on the exterior faces of the side Webs of the angle bars and projecting beneath the connected ends of the side pieces to support the latter and exclude dust and dirt.

19. A track chain made up of a series of articulated link sections, each comprising spaced side pieces, a shoe in the form-of a channel bar extending transversely of the side pieces, being directed outwardly to form groundengaging members, said channel bar being of less Width than the length of the side faces, and means carried on the exterior faces of the side webs of the angle bars and projecting beneath the connected ends of the side pieces to support the latter and exclude the side Webs of the' channel bar- Witnesses.

dust and dirt, said last mentioned piecesbeing in the form of angle bars having their flanges overlapping; 1

20. A track chain made up of a series of articulated link sections, each comprising spaced side pieces of cast'inetal, a band of Wrought iron surrounding each side piece with curved ends' spaced from the ends of the side pieces to form apertures to receive a coupling pin, and a shoe formed of channel bar carrled upon the side pieces, the side- Webs of. the channel bar extending outwardly to form and olts projecting through the side pieces,

bands and angle bar for securing the parts of the channel bar extending out'Wardlytoform ground-engaging members, bolts projecting through the side pieces, angle bar for securing the parts together, a coupling pin for connecting adjacent links together, said coupling pin being in the form of a tubular member projecting through the apertures 1n the side pieces, and axpacking material within the tubular ground-engaging members,

bands and member. saturated with oil and arranged to discharge oil onto the bearing surfaces between the pin and side pieces v f a In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two'subscribing BENJAMIN HOLT. Witnesses: I V

R. E..MANN, .O'. H. ECCLESTON. 

